Month: March 2017

When my oldest daughter, The Musician, was 4 years old, she came to me and said, “I am going to need a little violin and a little stick.” She wanted to take violin lessons so badly that it was all she talked about for weeks on end. Seeing visions of the New York Philharmonic in my mind, I dutifully signed her up for lessons. Everything went very smoothly for about 6 months. She willingly practiced every day, sometimes even twice. Getting her instrument out of its case brought joy and happiness. After her first concert, she came home beaming and even more excited.

I just had to share this one with you. My kids really enjoy reading Calvin and Hobbes. I think they relate to Calvin’s over-blown imagination and boundless energy. Inspired by this wacky and lovable cartoon character, Big-Sis and my niece drew this for a church youth group project:

Once in a while, one of my kids fall into a funk – a period of negativity and difficult behavior which makes parenting, especially homeschooling, a real challenge. When this happens, not only do I feel sorrow for my child, but I also feel discouraged and inadequate. And yet, I know that this is a common experience among parents.

Perhaps it’s a hyper-sensitive child who whines and cries over the smallest vexations. Perhaps it’s a strong-willed child who fights you tooth and nail whenever you tell him to do something. Perhaps it’s that hormonal middle schooler, who has suddenly become moody, disrespectful, and ultra-critical. Or perhaps it’s a child whose health issues makes her irritable and crabby.

Whatever the situation, although you know deep-down that you love this child, there are times when it can be a real challenge to be patient and loving. So what can we do?

Published by Scepter:

I love this book (!) because Mary Cooney 'gets' motherhood: "Feeling inadequate is a wonderful place to begin!" she says. Drawing on the wisdom of Scripture, the Catechism, the Popes, the Saints, and Church History, and packed full of Mary's own personal experience and story, "Evangelizing Our Children with Joy" is a wonderful combination of the lofty and the practical, and is a treasure trove for meditating on God's wonderful plan for motherhood and bringing our children to the Lord. - Holly Pierlot, Author of A Mother's Rule of Life

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